Operation Planning Research Articles

Cerebrospinal fluid drain placement and comprehensive strategies for spinal cord protection in open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Ischaemic spinal cord injury remains a significant challenge in thoracoabdominal aortic repairs. Modern techniques have reduced spinal cord injury rates yet managing patients during and after thoracoabdominal aortic repairs remains complex. This article outlines our comprehensive approach to the prevention of spinal cord injuries in open thoracoabdominal aortic repair operations, focusing on the placement of cerebrospinal fluid drain and intraoperative strategies to enhance spinal cord protection. Preoperative planning involves thorough patient assessment, prehabilitation and nutritional support, detailed imaging review, thorough operative planning and patient blood management. Intraoperative measures include the use of neuromonitoring techniques like near-infrared spectroscopy and motor evoked potentials, as well as cerebrospinal fluid drainage together with blood pressure management to optimize spinal cord perfusion. Postoperative management focuses on maintaining haemodynamic stability with high mean arterial pressure, along with close monitoring and management of the cerebrospinal fluid drain to improve spinal cord perfusion. Additionally, thromboelastography-guided strategies are crucial for optimizing coagulation and addressing postoperative bleeding complications. The goal of this multifaceted approach is to minimize the risk of spinal cord injury, thereby improving patient outcomes and reducing the incidence of postoperative paraplegia. Our video tutorial shows some of our preoperative and intraoperative techniques for spinal cord protection in thoracoabdominal aortic repairs.

A clustering method for charging behaviors of electric vehicle users based on an improved k-means algorithm

Abstract The uncertainty of Electric vehicle users’ (EVUs) charging behaviors affect the power grid safety. Therefore, mining the charging behavior characteristics of EVUs can help the power grid to make optimal operation plans previously to smooth the load curve and improve stability. In this regard, a clustering strategy for EVUs is proposed, using an improved K-means algorithm based on the minimum variance theory(MVT). Additionally, the Monte Carlo algorithm is utilized to obtain the simulation results of EVUs. Finally, a numerical simulation based on actual data in China is established to validate the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed cluster algorithm. The results indicate that the proposed cluster algorithm can accurately extract the characteristics of EVUs’ off-on grid behaviors and obtain the accurate daily charging demand representing the main charging rules among EVUs. The proposed algorithm results in a reduction of 69.2% of solution time compared to the traditional K-means algorithm.

A Study of the Rainwater Pumping Station Operation Plan to Reduce River Water Level

Urban flood damage is caused by various and complex effects such as inland flood and external water flooding, so research on this is necessary. This study presented a rainwater pumping station operation technique that can suppress the rise in water levels in discharge rivers based on rainfall and pump operation scenarios in order to reduce inland water flooding and simultaneously consider external water levels. The research method used genetic algorithm (GA) optimization techniques to calculate the optimal operating level for each pump, and based on this, an operating scenario was created to minimize pump operation. In addition, after constructing a rainfall scenario based on the probability rainfall in Seoul, an optimal pump operation technique that can reduce the external water level while minimizing the inundation of domestic water was proposed. The results of the study showed that as the rainfall intensity increases, the flooding increases and the peak depth of the runoff increases. In addition, as the pumping scenario changes from 1 to 11, the number of pumping operations decreases, which reduces the drainage volume of the pumps, which increases the flooding.

Planning national potential: Israel defense forces and the question of the Arab minority during wartime

ABSTRACT Since modern warfare is not only tanks, planes and soldiers, but also a total war between nations, their current and potential economies, their material forces and mental capacities, planning a war comes down to the creation and organization of the country’s overall combatant potential for military use. After the end of the War of Independence and the establishment of the State of Israel, approximately 160,000 Arabs remained in its territory. This minority was perceived as a fifth column at that time that could endanger the security of the State. To devise proactive countermeasures, the IDF Planning Department began discussing what steps should be taken regarding the Arab minority in the case of future war to neutralize this potential threat. The basic principles, which were later formulated into strategic and operative plans of action, were also influenced by the understanding that Israel is a democratic State, and that there are constraints and political considerations bounding these steps. The Planning Department also considered that in some ways this minority could be used to strengthen the national potential.

Modeling and Evaluation of Penetration Process Based on 3D Mechanical Simulation

In biological micromanipulation, cell penetration is a typical procedure that precedes cell injection or oocyte enucleation. During this procedure, cells usually undergo significant deformation, which leads to cell damage. In this paper, we focus on modeling and evaluating the cell penetration process to reduce cell deformation and stress, thereby reducing cell damage. Initially, a finite element model (FEM) is established to simulate the cell penetration process. The effectiveness of the model is then verified through visual detection and comparison of cell deformation with experimental data. Next, various mechanical responses are analyzed, considering the influence of parameters, such as the radius and shape of the injection micropipettes, material properties, and size of the cells. Finally, the relationship between the intracellular stress and the cell penetration depth of biological cells is obtained. The evaluation results will be applied to develop optimized operation plans, enhancing the efficiency and safety of the cell penetration process.

Optimizing the anesthetic care of patients with aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency.

Aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder that results in a lack of the monoamine neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. Patients present with a wide spectrum of symptoms, including motor and autonomic dysfunction, hypotonia, and developmental delay, often before the age of one. Until recently, treatment options were limited to symptom control, but the recent approval of the first gene therapy for AADC deficiency in Europe and the UK has provided an alternative to treating symptoms for this disease. Eladocagene exuparvovec is a one-time gene therapy, administered bilaterally to the putamen by magnetic resonance imaging-guided stereotactic neurosurgery. While administration of the gene therapy itself is minimally invasive, the anesthetic management of patients with AADC deficiency is challenging due to the absence of sympathetic regulation secondary to the lack of adrenergic neurotransmitters. Optimal anesthetic management requires an understanding of the complex and heterogeneous nature of the disease. Hemodynamic instability, temperature dysregulation, and hypoglycemia are of primary concern, but there are also challenges regarding intravenous access and airway management. A thorough preoperative assessment is essential and should be guided by the patient's history. Advanced planning is necessary regarding the timing of the procedure schedule and operative plan; meticulous preparation, simulation for the operating room, as well as communication with all perioperative staff members, are crucial. Intraoperatively, utmost care must be taken to protect the skin, maintain body temperature, and to prepare for inotropic and/or glycemic support as needed. Postoperative intensive care management is necessary for consideration of postoperative extubation and provision of supportive care. With careful planning, preparation, and vigilance, patients with AADC deficiency can safely undergo anesthesia.

Improving communication during damage control surgery: a survey of adult major trauma centres in England.

Deficiencies in non-technical skills can severely impede the functioning of teams in high-intensity scenarios, such as in damage control surgery for the critically injured trauma patient. Truncated preoperative checklists, modified from the standard World Health Organization preoperative checklist, and situational reporting at intervals during surgery are long-established practices in the military, and are recommended in the National Health Service guidelines on major incidents. These tools allow the multiprofessional team to create a shared mental model of the anaesthetic and operative plan, thereby improving team efficiency. Our aim was to establish whether adult major trauma centres in England are using truncated preoperative checklists and situational reporting for damage control surgery. An online survey was devised and distributed via the national programme of care for trauma in November 2020. Responses were received from all 23 adult major trauma centres in England. Nine centres (39.1%) reported using a truncated preoperative checklist for damage control surgery albeit in a variety of formats. Common components were blood products received and/or available, presence of allergies, tranexamic acid and antibiotic administration, availability of viscoelastic tests, equipment required, availability of cell saver, role allocation and reference to other personnel needed, and discussion of the plan. Twelve centres (52.2%) have formal policies in place for situational reporting. Again, these were in multiple formats but all focused on patient physiology to direct surgical planning. We have identified key components to advanced communication aids for damage control surgery, providing a foundation on which other major trauma centres can build their own versions of these potentially lifesaving tools.

A hybrid load forecasting system based on data augmentation and ensemble learning under limited feature availability

Accurate power load forecasting is an important part of power system operation planning, it can ensure the stable operation of power systems and improve the efficiency of energy utilization. The power load is affected by many factors including temperature, season, population density, and so on, however due to privacy protection and other reasons, it is difficult to obtain some characteristic information that affects the load. The lack of characteristic data will reduce the accuracy of load forecasting and the generalization ability. To solve it, a new hybrid load forecasting framework is proposed, which is composed of two subsystems: a data preprocessing system and a high-precision forecasting system. Based on the load sequence itself, subsystem 1 obtains the trend data and denoising data by variational mode decomposition method, obtains the indicator variable for the weekend according to the one-hot encoding, and also introduces the electricity price data, thus obtaining the 4-dimensional extended data. Subsystem 2 constructs a hybrid prediction model by synthesizing various models, including deep learning and machine learning models, to forecast the expanded data. Finally, the multi-objective JAYA algorithm based on tent chaotic mapping and cross-perturbation strategy is used to ensemble the prediction results of the sub-models. To verify the superiority of the proposed forecasting framework, we conducted experiments using four sets of load data from New South Wales, Australia. The experimental results show that the average absolute percentage error of the hybrid framework on the four data sets are MAPEMarch=0.8070, MAPEJune=0.8296, MAPESeptember=0.7238 and MAPEDecember=0.7709, which are significantly lower than other models and provide a basis for power system scheduling management.

DTI fiber-tracking parameters adjacent to gliomas: the role of tract irregularity value in operative planning, resection, and outcome.

The goal of glioma surgery is maximal tumor resection associated with minimal post-operative morbidity. Diffusion tensor imaging-tractography/fiber tracking (DTI-FT) is a valuable white-matter (WM) visualization tool for diagnosis and surgical planning. Still, it assumes a descriptive role since the main DTI metrics and parameters showed several limitations in clinical use. New applications and quantitative measurements were recently applied to describe WM architecture that surround the tumor area. The brain adjacent tumor area (BAT) is defined as the region adjacent to the gross tumor volume, which contains signal abnormalities on T2-weighted or FLAIR sequences. The DTI-FT analysis of the BAT can be adopted as predictive values and a guide for safe tumor resection. This is an observational prospective study on an extensive series of glioma patients who performed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with pre-operative DTI-FT analyzed on the BAT by two different software. We examined DTI parameters of Fractional anisotropy (FA mean, min-max), Mean diffusivity (MD), and the shape-metric "tract irregularity" (TI) grade, comparing it with the surgical series' clinical, radiological, and outcome data. The population consisted of 118 patients, with a mean age of 60.6 years. 82 patients suffering from high-grade gliomas (69.5%), and 36 from low-grade gliomas (30.5%). A significant inverse relationship exists between the FA mean value and grading (p = 0.001). The relationship appears directly proportional regarding MD values (p = 0.003) and TI values (p = 0.005). FA mean and MD values are susceptible to significant variations with tumor and edema volume (p = 0.05). TI showed an independent relationship with grading regardless of tumor radiological features and dimensions, with a direct relationship with grading, ki67% (p = 0,05), PFS (p < 0.001), and EOR (p < 0.01). FA, MD, and TI are useful predictive measures of the clinical behavior of glioma, and TI could be helpful for tumor grading identification and surgical planning.

Research on charging scheduling optimization of pure electric buses considering peak-valley time-of-use electricity prices and battery loss costs

In recent years, with the accelerated progress of pure electric buses in my country, the charging scheduling and operation plan of pure electric buses urgently needs to be rationalized and scientific. This study takes the charging scheduling operation in the daily operation of pure electric buses as the starting point, and effectively describes the battery loss cost function by analyzing the optimal fluctuation range of the state of charge of the power battery of pure electric buses. Combined with the analysis of the characteristics of peak and valley time-of-use electricity prices during the charging period, the problem is refined into a pure electric bus charging scheduling decision with controllable operation completion, and the parallel machine scheduling theory is used to characterize and solve the mathematical optimization model, with the aim of minimizing the operating cost of bus companies. At the same time, an immune optimization algorithm based on random key encoding and a greedy algorithm based on the idea of avoiding peaks and filling valleys are developed to solve large-scale problems. In addition, the effectiveness of the algorithm and the applicability of the method are verified through the real bus network in Shanghai.

Toward understanding the hydrologic, ecologic and community flooding implications of coastal restoration strategies: Sediment diversions

Evaluating the real-world impacts of proposed restoration strategies is a complex process. Typically, restoration is pursued to achieve a number of primary and secondary objectives as most coastal and deltaic areas support a variety of functions and activities with substantial social and economic values. In this analysis, we demonstrate the importance of considering the broad implications of planning and implementing restoration projects. We use a recently developed simplified and computationally efficient biophysical numerical model. The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, a restoration project approximately 60 km down the Mississippi River from New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, offers an opportunity to quantify the benefits and potential impacts of large-scale restoration. Operation plans of the diversion are employed in this analysis to reveal the delicate balance between its potential benefits and possible adverse effects. Evaluation metrics include net land change and landscape evolution, change in salinity and subsequent shift in the distribution of marsh types, long-term change in the hydroperiod and marsh inundation, and change in the flood risk for unique local coastal communities and culture. We also consider subaqueous basin infilling, spatial sediment deposition, and creation of shallow water areas that might be of ecological value. These metrics are evaluated collectively under a set of future scenarios capturing long-term impacts of sea level rise and subsidence. This analysis provides evidence in favor of using a multi-metric approach to holistically evaluate restoration during the planning and design phases, as well as to guide the process of adaptively managing restoration projects post construction.

Level of Compliance on Operation Plan Sita in Golden Acres Subdivision Annex, Talon Uno Las Piñas City

Operation Plan Sita in Golden Acres Subdivision Annex, Talon Uno, Las Piñas City. In the determination of Level of Compliance of Operation Plan Sita in Golden Acres Subdivision Annex, Talon Uno Las Piñas City, it was divided into three (3) indicators: Oplan Sita Guidelines, Basic equipment needed at Oplan Sita and Oplan Sita Team. First, Oplan Sita Guidelines got a general weighted mean of 3.25 interpreted as Complied, PNP Personnel complies with the standards set by the Revised Philippine National Police Operational Procedures 2013, in terms of Oplan Sita Guidelines as perceived by the respondents of this study. Second, Basic equipment needed at Oplan Sita got a general weighted mean of 3.69 interpreted as Very Much Complied, it implies that PNP Personnel completely comply with the standards set by the Revised Philippine National Police Operational Procedures 2013, in terms of Basic equipment needed as perceived by the respondents of this study. Third, Oplan Sita Team got a general weighted mean of 3.42 interpreted as Very Much Complied which implies that PNP Personnel was Very much Complied in accordance with the standards set by the Revised Philippine National Police Operational Procedures 2013, in terms of Oplan Sita Team as perceived by the respondents of this study.

Probabilistic risk assessment of civil aircraft associated failures under condition-based maintenance

Maintenance can improve an aircraft system's reliability over a long operation period or when a component has failed. However, inappropriate maintenance inspection intervals will cause latent failures to be covered or undetected, leading to a large number of unplanned flight disruptions for airlines. In this paper, we present a two-stage framework to assess the associated failure risk of civil aircraft under condition-based maintenance. In the first stage of the framework, the probability of primary functional failure across the lifecycles of the monitored component is determined by analyzing whether the current inspection interval prevents the component from progressing from latent failure to functional failure. In the second stage of the framework, the associated failure probability between components and related systems is formulated by the adjacency matrix. The structure and performance of the proposed model were tested on a case study by run-to-failure data associated with aircraft engines from a large airline. Focusing on the scenario of turbine disk cracking leading to fragment penetration of the fuel tank and causing fire as the consequential fault impact path, the results show that the risk of aircraft fire caused by turbine disk fragments falls within an acceptable range, necessitating the completion of inspections and subsequent monitoring within the stipulated timeframe. The method can be used to readjust the inspection interval, optimize the operation plan, improve the on-time performance of flights, and reduce the risk of aviation accidents.

An Observational Study of Clinico-radiological Co-relation of Carrying Angle in Children.

The purpose of this study is to establish the correlation of clinically measured carrying angle with four radiological angles, i.e., Humerus-Elbow-Wrist angle (HEWA), Humero-ulnar angle, Metaphyseal-Diaphyseal angle, and Baumann's angle, and to find out which of the above-mentioned angles co-relates best with the clinically measured carrying angle. We studied 100 patients in the age group of 2-12years after Ethics committee approval and informed consent from parents. Clinical angle was measured using goniometer and radiological angles marked on antero-posterior elbow X-ray using a standard method. Collected data were studied using statistical tests to find out correlation. Pearson correlation coefficient for humerus-elbow-wrist angle found to be 0.674 followed by Humero-Ulnar angle (r = 0.417). Regression coefficient for humerus-elbow-wrist angle is 0.635 (p value < 0.001). Humerus-Elbow-Wrist angle correlates better compared to other radiological angles in assessment of varus-valgus angulations of elbow & will not only play a vital role in pre- operative planning of deformity corrections but also in the evaluation & comparison of the post-operative functional outcomes.

UAV-BS Operation Plan Using Reinforcement Learning for Unified Communication and Positioning in GPS-Denied Environment

UAV-BS Operation Plan Using Reinforcement Learning for Unified Communication and Positioning in GPS-Denied Environment

Intraneural Topography and Branching Patterns of the Common Peroneal Nerve: Studying the Feasibility of Distal Nerve Transfers.

Common peroneal nerve (CPN) disruption is the most common lower extremity nerve injury and results in gait disturbances and sensory paresthesias. The goal of this study is to describe branching patterns and the intraneural topography of the CPN to facilitate operative planning in CPN reconstruction. The CPN and its distal motor and sensory branches were dissected in 6 lower leg cadavers. Branching patterns and distances were recorded with the fibular head as the landmark. Histological review of the nerve cross sections helped characterize the intraneural topography within the fibular tunnel. The CPN distal branching patterns were highly variable. The tibialis anterior motor branch was found on average 9.6 cm distal to the fibular head. Despite the variable branching patterns, the fascicular topography of the CPN within the fibular tunnel was consistent. Proximal to the tunnel, the nerve has 3 major fascicles, which include the superficial peroneal motor, common sensory, and deep peroneal motor (DPN) fascicles from lateral to medial. Within the tunnel, the topography consolidates into the superficial peroneal motor and DPN major divisions-motor axons anteriorly and sensory axons posteriorly. The data presented provide clinically relevant information for the peripheral nerve surgeon where fascicular reconstruction of the nerve and neurolysis should focus on the anterior half of the nerve to restore ankle dorsiflexion. The nerve proximally is divided into 3 major fascicles compared with 2 distally. Surgeons may consider distal nerve transfers from the tibial nerve motor branches to the DPN or tibialis anterior motor branch.

Coping with Sinkholes: A Systematic Literature Review

Sinkholes have frequently occurred around soluble rock formations, but they have been indirectly related to imprudent human practices, based on long-standing recognition. The aim of this study was to explore how to improve sinkhole hazard management to decrease the extent of related risks. The main methodology was a systematic literature review that identified and synthesized the relevant information. The proposed analytical framework served as the basis for review criteria, and the scope of literature was mainly restricted to relevant text data. Analytical categories and analytical units were both used in the text synthesis process. Sinkholes were traditionally treated as natural events; however, major stakeholders started to pay attention to them as human-induced events under climate change. These players extensively included international organizations, sinkhole-prone countries (e.g., Venezuela, China, Saudi Arabia, etc.), and sinkhole-resistant countries (e.g., United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Australia, etc.) in this study. A key theme in the literature was that these stakeholders would no longer deal with sinkholes as natural events but as human-induced events, based on potential advantages (i.e., managing manmade sinkholes and implementing emergency operation plans). Similarly, as addressing emergency prevention, public awareness, technological application, social challenges, education, and training, the key tenet of study would be further achieved in terms of managerial implications. The results of this study suggested that human activities would act as negative factors in sinkhole occurrence more directly than were indicated previously. Hence, the understanding of sinkhole hazard management would be quite deepened via social environment, while policy makers were to proactively manage the issue with the sincere cooperation of local residents.

Clinical and Market Analysis of NanoBEO: A Public-Worth, Innovative Therapy for Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD)-Emerging Evidence and Its Implications for a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and Decision-Making in National Health Systems.

According to scientific literature, some 99% of patients affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD) suffer from behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), also known as neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs). In particular, agitation is one of the most difficult disorders to treat. States of agitation represent a very serious problem as they make these subjects dangerous for themselves and others and worsen as the disease advances. To date, there are no specific solutions for treating agitation. The only authorized drug is risperidone (as well as brexpiprazole, approved by the FDA on 11 May 2023), which can be used for no longer than 6-12 weeks because it increases the risk of death-owing to cardiocerebrovascular accidents-by 1.6-1.7 times. In order to address the latter noteworthy unmet medical need, NanoBEO was produced. The aim of the present work is to generate the health technology assessment (HTA) of this nanotechnological device. The latter consists of a controlled release system, based on solid lipid nanoparticles loaded with bergamot essential oil (BEO). The results of the present research assessed the current evidence in the field of non-pharmacological treatments for this condition, including relevant primary preclinical and clinical data studies supporting the use of this device and the production of the operative plan for its launch on the market. The findings offer recommendations for decision-making on its implementation in dementia. NanoBEO represents a public-worth innovation in this neglected area, marking a significant advancement in the history of dementia, moving from academic research to product development.

The Influence of New Service Attributes in the Trans-Sumatera Railway Operation Plan on User Choice

The Influence of New Service Attributes in the Trans-Sumatera Railway Operation Plan on User Choice

Design of energy management strategies for shared energy storage microgrid based on smart contracts under privacy protection

Park microgrids, valued for their efficiency and flexibility, require privacy-conscious energy management to ensure a trusted scheduling and trading environment. This paper, focusing on park microgrids with shared energy storage, designs an energy management strategy that comprehensively considers shared energy storage, scheduling transparency, and privacy security. First, a blockchain-based energy management platform is established, forming an energy dispatch consensus committee to execute decentralized scheduling management and decision-making. Next, an optimized energy scheduling smart contract for park microgrids is designed, considering Time-of-Use (ToU) pricing and storage arbitrage to formulate the day-ahead electricity purchase and sales plans as well as the shared energy storage operation plans. Then, a privacy protection strategy based on the Shamir secret sharing scheme is proposed, effectively preventing data leakage during blockchain interactions. Finally, through case analysis, the superiority of the proposed method in microgrid optimized scheduling, data tamper-resistance, and privacy protection is demonstrated.